The results of yesterday’s elections in Italy and Austria mean leadership changes in both of those countries. First notice a report related to Italy:

5 December 2016

“My government ends today,” said Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi just after midnight on Monday, in a televised address from the Palazzo Chigi. “I take full responsibility for this defeat.”

Renzi said he could not refute the “extraordinarily clear” results of Sunday’s referendum on constitutional reforms, and called on his rivals to provide clear proposals for ending the continuous cycle of political deadlock in Rome. He offered his condolences to those in his “Yes” camp, congratulating them on a hard-fought campaign. …

Europe calls for fast solution

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was saddened by Premier Matteo Renzi’s defeat in the Italian constitutional referendum.

“I am sad that the referendum in Italy didn’t turn out the way the premier wanted, because I have always supported his course of reform.”

However, she said she believed that Europe as a whole was on the right track.

“From my point of view, we will continue our work in Europe and we have set the right priorities.”

Following Renzi’s referendum defeat, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he hoped the government crisis in Italy would resolve quickly.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, meanwhile, urged Italy to continue with Renzi’s economic reforms during a call with his Italian counterpart on Monday. …

Renzi had faced an uphill battle from the start. By vowing to step down in the case of a “No” victory, he conflated constitutional change with support for himself and his party. In addition, his opposition came from all sides: Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s right-leaning Forza Italia Party, populists Lega Nord and the 5-Star Movement (M5S), and even some members of his own PD were against the move. …

France’s far-right National Front leader, Marine Le Pen, also welcomed the news as part of her euroskeptic agenda, saying: “The Italians have rejected the EU and Renzi. This thirst for the liberty of nations and protection must be listened to!”

European partners sought to downplay the risk for the common euro currency and European unity.

“This is a crisis of government, not a crisis of state, and it’s not the end of the West. But it’s certainly not a positive contribution against the backdrop of the crisis in Europe,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in Athens.

Could Italy leave the EU?

The biggest winners will be former comedian turned politician Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement party (M5S). They are anti-EU and want Italy freed from the constraints of the European single currency. It’s the sort of change the EU is unlikely to give easily, if at all.

The stage is slowly being set for a possible Itexit.

Renzi had been doing well in the polls until he staked his political future on the referendum. His enemies saw their chance and pounced, and that includes other anti-EU parties like the Northern League, or Legra Nord.

40 And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. 41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. (Daniel 2:40-43)

The Bible is clear that one day Europe will reorganize and arise and surprise people:

11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:11-13)

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:1-8)